Don, our oldest active curler, is still delivering great shots! Birthday celebrations were held at the Sr. Mixed Christmas luncheon.
Happy 90th Birthday Don!
News
5-Week Daytime Learn to Curl
We are hosting a 5-week Learn to Curl program Feb. 23 – Mar. 30, on Wednesday afternoons from 2:00 – 4:00pm.
We welcome and encourage you to come join us for five weeks of fun on the ice. We will provide the equipment needed to curl: brooms, grippers and sticks for those interested. As well, each session will begin with a 30 minute curling lesson or review for those of you who haven’t curled for a while. Following the lesson you will be broken into teams with some experienced curlers and play a game.
If you are concerned about getting into the hack, many senior curlers today have chosen to curl with a push stick. This is a safe, effective way to throw a rock and has allowed many senior curlers to continue to enjoy the game that they love.
After curling, come upstairs to socialize with fellow curlers and enjoy a beverage of your choice.
Contact Tina Hinds (604) 853-8644 or tinahinds7@gmail.com for details or to register.
Senior Mixed Bonspiel Rescheduled
The Senior Mixed Bonspiel has been rescheduled from Dec. 3 – 5, 2021 to March 18 – 20, 2022.
Visit the Senior Mixed webpage for details.
Second Half Registration Open
Happy Monday to All,
The online registration is now open for the 2nd half of the season. If you curl in any of the day leagues please register for the 2nd half session online at:
https://abbotsford.curling.io/en/leagues
Remember we will be extending the curling season 2 weeks to help make up for the games missed due to the flood. The last week of curling will be the week of April 4 to 8 so league reps please revise your schedules.
The last week of curling for the fall session is December 20 to 22, so the last day of curling will be Wednesday December 22.
That is all for now.
Cheers,
Kent Bird
Revised Fall Masters Schedule
Masters curling will resume on Mon, Dec 6 and Wed, Dec 8. Attached are the revised schedules for the last 2 weeks of the fall session.
We will also have our Christmas lunch on Dec 13 following the second draw; around 1 pm. All Masters curlers from both days are invited to this lunch. Lunch will be soup and sandwiches provided by the curling club kitchen.
See you all next week.
Gary Jarl
Bonspiel Cancellation and Postponement
Senior Mixed Bonspiel (Dec. 3 – 5)
POSTPONED – New Date TBD
Driving Force Decks Int’l Abbotsford Classic Cashspiel (Dec. 17 – 20)
CANCELLED
Club Update Nov. 29, 2021
Happy Monday to All,
The ice install is near completion so we will be back curling this Thursday December 2 at 9:30am.
Thank you to Dayne Gagnon, Nic Hoffard, Kim Turnbull, Dennis Palmer, Chris Lamb, Linda Wilmott, Bert Creasy for helping us get everything back together again.
That is all for now.
Cheers,
Kent Bird
Club Update Nov. 26, 2021
Good Friday to All,
We have the refrigeration plant up and running full power ahead. Kim Turnbull and Dennis Palmer worked long hours all week making this happen so a big thank you to them both.
This morning we started making ice again so the plan is to be open for curling next Friday morning at 8am for the Sr. mixed bonspiel. League play will begin next Friday with the Friday night mixed league starting at 6:30pm.
We can curl on Thursday December 23 to make up for 1 of the Thursday’s missed, it will be up to each league if they want to play or not but the ice will be open if they want it.
That is all for now. Back to making ice.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Cheers,
Kent
Club Update Nov. 22, 2021
Happy Monday to All,
We have some good news today, the 3rd motor is scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning so we should be able to start the refrigeration plant up Wednesday or Thursday this week. So long as this next storm doesn’t cause any more flooding.
This means we will back curling next week just in time for the Senior mixed bonspiel on Friday December 3 at 8am. We owe a big thank you to the cities of Abbotsford and Vancouver for providing us with the white paint for the install and to Smart Ice, Dayne Gagnon, for helping with the install next week.
I am planning to extend the season 2 weeks in the new year from March 26, 2022 to April 9, 2022. This will get us 2 weeks of curling back from this unplanned shut down. I am also planning to have the last day of full curling before Christmas break on Thursday December 23, so all Thursday leagues can plan to play on December 23. We will also have ice open a few days the week after Christmas for a fun bonspiel and for family and friends to come down and burn off some of the Christmas stuffing. More details to come for the mini bonspiel so stay tuned.
That is all for now.
Cheers,
Kent Bird
Club Update Nov. 20, 2021
Good Morning to All,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to extend our heart felt sympathies to all those who have been devastated by the floods on the Sumas Prairie. Our loss of a few curling games is pretty insignificant compared to the challenges those people are facing. We also want to thank the first responders and the many volunteers who rushed to help as they always do.
Now to our curling club dilemma. As you are aware, last Sunday the pump room flooded from a storm sewer back-up destroying three pump motors. The ice started to melt. The brine pump was replaced fairly quickly but the compressor pumps were another matter. Despite the best efforts of the repair men they could not get the new compressor motor to work properly and the ice is no longer salvageable. At the present time it seems two replacement motors will not be available until next week. This means that Kent will have to remove the present ice, clean the logos and re-install the ice when the plant is running again. The rink will be closed for at least another week or two. Kent expects to have the rink ready to go in time for the Senior Mixed Bonspiel on Dec 3.
This is an accident that no one could have predicted or prevented, just like the tragedy unfolding around us. Though the damage is covered by insurance, we won’t get the curling time back. I want to recognize the efforts of Kent who has worked tirelessly during this time to try and get us back up and running ASAP only to have to start over. It must be very frustrating but he pushes on. Kent may reach out to individuals for assistance as needed. Kim Turnbull and Dennis Palmer have spent many hours every day in that pump room trying to make things work, adjusting, improvising, moving 700 pound motors. Our thanks to Chris Lamb for loaning us some much needed equipment. The manager of the Golden Ears Curling club has also offered his assistance and ice time if needed.
We did not need this, especially this year. But to quote Kelly Clarkson “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” !
We will keep you informed. We will go on !
Gord Wallington – president